What do people with successful resolutions do?

The correct answer is: According to a University of Washington survey of people who had made health-related resolutions, successful participants had all three factors in common.

New Year's Resolution Solutions

Question 2 of 20 Correct

True or false: People who make New Year's resolutions are more likely to succeed in achieving their goals.

TRUE

FALSE

Correct!Sorry, that’s incorrect.

The correct answer is: This is true. Research shows that people who make resolutions are 10 times more likely to attain their goals than people who don't make any.

New Year's Resolution Solutions

Question 3 of 20 Correct

True or false: The more specific your goal is, the more likely you'll be able to reach it.

TRUE

FALSE

Correct!Sorry, that’s incorrect.

The correct answer is: This is true. Your resolutions should be attainable, realistic and specific. You're more likely to succeed in "losing 10 pounds" than in "losing some weight."

New Year's Resolution Solutions

Question 4 of 20 Correct

Which of the following strategies can help you keep New Year's resolutions beyond January?

Getting the help of friends

Preparing for slip ups

Staying positive

All of the above

Correct!Sorry, that’s incorrect.

The correct answer is: You should also think of resolutions as marathons. They will take more time to achieve than short, 100-yard dashes.

New Year's Resolution Solutions

Question 5 of 20 Correct

True or false: Neuroscience studies suggest you shouldn't set multiple goals at the same time.

TRUE

FALSE

Correct!Sorry, that’s incorrect.

The correct answer is: This is true. It may be easier to spread your goals out across the year. For example, if you want to lose weight and quit smoking, start one goal and then start the other six months later.

New Year's Resolution Solutions

Question 6 of 20 Correct

What percentage of New Year's resolutions fail?

58 percent

68 percent

78 percent

88 percent

Correct!Sorry, that’s incorrect.

The correct answer is: About 88 percent of all resolutions fail, according to a 2007 survey of 3,000 people conducted by British psychologist Richard Wiseman.

New Year's Resolution Solutions

Question 7 of 20 Correct

An effective goal begins with the words ...

"I will"

"I plan to"

"I hope to"

Correct!Sorry, that’s incorrect.

The correct answer is: Using language that expresses commitment such as "I will" and "I am committed to" will help you reach your goal. Attaching a timeline, such as "I will lose 10 pounds in six weeks," can help, too.

New Year's Resolution Solutions

Question 8 of 20 Correct

True or false: Rewards are an important motivator for goal-setting success.

TRUE

FALSE

Correct!Sorry, that’s incorrect.

The correct answer is: This is true. Rewards can be a great motivator if you're trying to lose weight, exercise more or quit smoking. Just make sure the reward doesn't reinforce the behavior you're trying to avoid.

New Year's Resolution Solutions

Question 9 of 20 Correct

What percentage of smokers who quit cold turkey succeed the first time?

2 percent

10 percent

20 percent

40 percent

Correct!Sorry, that’s incorrect.

The correct answer is: Only 2 percent of smokers who try to quit cold turkey can successfully stop the first time.

New Year's Resolution Solutions

Question 10 of 20 Correct

What can increase someone's chances of quitting smoking?

Nicotine patches

Staying away from other smokers

Avoiding stressful situations

All of the above

Correct!Sorry, that’s incorrect.

The correct answer is: All of the above can help. When you are craving a cigarette, think of the 4 D's: Delay, Drink water, Do something else and Deep breathing.

New Year's Resolution Solutions

Question 11 of 20 Correct

How much time does it take to make a new exercise routine stick?

3 months

6 months

1 year

Correct!Sorry, that’s incorrect.

The correct answer is: Generally, it takes six months to make an activity stick. After six months you enter the maintenance stage. Even though you have formed a change in behavior and exercise routine, you are still tempted to return to old habits of less exercise.

New Year's Resolution Solutions

Question 12 of 20 Correct

True or false: Thinking of foods as "good" or "bad" will help you eat healthier.

TRUE

FALSE

Correct!Sorry, that’s incorrect.

The correct answer is: This is false. Think nutrient-rich rather than "good" or "bad" foods. The majority of your food choices should be packed with vitamins, minerals, fiber and other nutrients -- and lower in calories.

New Year's Resolution Solutions

Question 13 of 20 Correct

How long does it take to break a bad habit?

7 days

14 days

21 days

28 days

Correct!Sorry, that’s incorrect.

The correct answer is: Experts generally say it takes 21 days to break a bad habit.

New Year's Resolution Solutions

Question 14 of 20 Correct

What is a low-maintenance diet?

A diet with few foods or recipes

A diet that's easy to shop for

A diet that includes easy-to-fix meals

All of the above

Correct!Sorry, that’s incorrect.

The correct answer is: Want to make a new diet stick? Put your diet on autopilot. Choose three healthy foods or recipes you like and make them regularly. They'll take the guess work out of shopping and cooking.

New Year's Resolution Solutions

Question 15 of 20 Correct

Which of the following is true about heart-healthy resolutions?

Even modest weight loss can reduce the risk of heart disease.

Quitting smoking immediately helps your heart.

Making a doctor's appointment to discuss your heart health may save your life.

All of the above

Correct!Sorry, that’s incorrect.

The correct answer is: All of the above. Heart disease is the number one killer of both men and women in the United States. Making a resolution to take care of your heart can be one of the most important things you do.

New Year's Resolution Solutions

Question 16 of 20 Correct

True or false: Making realistic exercise goals is the best way to keep them.

TRUE

FALSE

Correct!Sorry, that’s incorrect.

The correct answer is: This is true. If you've never worked out before, jumping into four, five or six days of working out is probably not realistic. Make sure your goals are achievable. If you resolved to walk more, make sure you're not trying to walk five miles a day when you've never walked one before.

New Year's Resolution Solutions

Question 17 of 20 Correct

True or false: Adults need at least 30 minutes of exercise every day to be healthy.

TRUE

FALSE

Correct!Sorry, that’s incorrect.

The correct answer is: The answer is true -- but that doesn't mean you have to do it at one time. Three 10-minute sessions of walking adds up to 30 minutes of exercise. Making exercise more manageable makes it more achievable.

New Year's Resolution Solutions

Question 18 of 20 Correct

Which of the following can help you overcome a negative body image?

Focusing on the benefits of exercise

Finding social support in friends

Choosing an activity you enjoy

All of the above

Correct!Sorry, that’s incorrect.

The correct answer is: All of the above. If you have a negative body image, standing in a gym full of mirrors probably won't boost your confidence. But if you focus on why you're exercising -- to improve your health, to lose weight, to make a body that you're proud of -- and choose activities that are fun, you'll be more likely to succeed. Invite a friend along and you'll do even better.

New Year's Resolution Solutions

Question 19 of 20 Correct

What causes weight-loss plateaus?

Psychological challenges

Relaxed efforts

Loss of lean-body tissue

All of the above

Correct!Sorry, that’s incorrect.

The correct answer is: All of the above. Sometimes we hit plateaus because we've relaxed our efforts -- either we're not eating as few calories or we're not exercising as hard. Sometimes the culprit is psychological. And then there can be loss of lean tissue, which means you burn fewer calories, which can contribute to your plateau.

New Year's Resolution Solutions

Question 20 of 20 Correct

True or false: Writing down food intake or exercise sessions in a journal won't help me achieve my goals.

TRUE

FALSE

Correct!Sorry, that’s incorrect.

The correct answer is: This is false. Journaling has been shown to help people keep weight-loss and exercise goals.

New Year's Resolution Solutions

Congratulations!

You got out of 20 correct. You're a health wiz!

SHARE ON

New Year's Resolution Solutions

Good try!

You got out of 20 correct. Learn more about Healthy Holidays to improve your score.

SHARE ON

New Year's Resolution Solutions

Better luck next time!

You got out of 20 correct. Learn more about Healthy Holidays to improve your score.